Sigh. I watched Nashville tonight. Rayna is getting divorced. Deacon had a birthday and no one would allow him to spend the evening with ‘Ole Yeller’ on VHS. What’s a guy gotta do to do what he wants on his birthday?
Okay, Rayna’s kids are afraid of being in a giant SUV with camera flashes going off? I guess Rayna’s never been famous since she was cognizant. Rayna’s been cheated on by a lesser man. She kind of loved him, but really loved Deacon. So what’s the big deal? I mean, of course the kids would be bothered, but she never seemed to be in love with him, nor he with her. Seriously I don’t understand why she didn’t simply have an ongoing affair with Deacon and he have an ongoing affair with Peggy if they simply didn’t want to separate for the kids sake. They’re all adults. The could have an understanding – married when at home or something. And once they saw the magazine cover in the grocery store what did they expect to happen after ballet class? Ludicrous! And of all people to spend the day with why on Earth would Rayna spend it with her sister? She doesn’t actually seem to like her. She seems to be a person who would have friends. Weird!
Lamar Wyatt acted uncharacteristically father-like. He’s not given us any inkling that he would back his daughter, nor that she was of any relevance, except as his candidate’s wife. So it was quite strange to have him seemingly attempting to offer comfort or encouragement.
Luckily I was watching a recording of the show so I could fast-forward through most of the music. I was able to avoid another sad little Juliette torture and most of that duet (unfortunately there were some scenes that I wanted to hear that included used it as a bed). I listened to Rayna’s song. Typically they give Rayna pretty mild and typically inoffensive songs. The long songs just seem designed to kill time. It’s almost a blessing since the writing seems to get weaker and weaker each episode.
Gunnar’s brother is dead. I was kinda relieved. Their chemistry was creepy. I liked the brother okay, though the storyline was lame. It’s a relief that its over – I hope its over. And then that odd thing Gunnar has for a roommate climbed on top of him and started mauling him. Dude! Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! That was disgusting. Besides the fact she straddled him to give him a hug, then mauling him when he’s vulnerable. ICK! I had been thinking earlier in the episode when she wanted to know if Joey had any laundry that needed doing that the only way she makes sense in the show is if its actually a bad porn movie. By the end of the episode it had sadly become a bad porn movie.
This show depresses me. The world of country music is a great subject for a show. An ensemble drama with strong women characters and strong men, is also a positive thing. As a result of the different career of the various characters the audience has the opportunity to enjoy the foibles of the rich and famous as well as the broke and wannabe famous. They have the opportunity to showcase many Nashville stars. The music business itself is dramatic which provides the writers rich fodder full of outrageous behavior, high drama, political intrigue and diabolical scheming. Nashville has the opportunity to be great. It’s not.
At this point it isn’t actually good. The writing is weak for any show, but definitely for a scripted drama in the post-reality-tv-world. Looking at the writing staff’s credits indicate some of them have written for well-written shows, so the writing should be better. Callie Khouri has written some tight scripts. I typically enjoy Paul McCrane as a director. So why is this show so crappy? It’s not just the acting. Yes, that blonde wraith that portrays Scarlett is a nightmare, and the guy who is Gunnar is not a strong actor – actually he’s a pretty weak actor – and Eric Close is extraordinarily boring, and Hayden Panettierre chews the scenery and most of the brunettes are interchangeable, but still. Dallas had to carry Charlene Tilton, Victoria Principal, Steve Kanaly, Linda Gray, and Audrey Landers among others. Dallas struggled a bit initially with the writing and acting, but it seemed to rapidly improve.
I definitely believe Connie Britton is as strong an actor as Larry Hagman and can soar with Rayna James as well as Larry reached the heights with J.R. Ewing. At this point Hayden Panettierre as Juliette seems weaker than Patrick Duffy as Bobby Ewing so Juliette seems overmatched and outclassed at every turn. I still believe she can grow into the role and I hope she does so. Deacon seems to almost be the Jock Ewing character – the no-nonsense guy who is simply trying to get the job done with as little fuss as possible, but constantly forced to choose sides between the two lead characters. Of course, he doesn’t seem to have any ties to Juliette so the comparison fails a bit there. At this point the people angles are so lightweight in the show the bonds are weak to non-existent. While we have been told that Scarlett is Deacon’s favorite niece there’s no chemistry between the two actors and nothing in the writing to support the relationship other than an
occasional mention in forgettable lines. I have believed Hayden Panettierre would be much better in this role than the blonde currently murdering the lines.
The relationship between Juliette and her mother seems to be a mystery to Hayden. It feels as though she has no idea what is coming next in the script with regard to the two characters. I wouldn’t be surprised if that storyline is constantly rewritten on the fly leaving the actors in the dark and the writing uneven. Teddy and Patsy are portrayed by extraordinarily boring actors and their theoretically spicy storyline limps along badly. I find myself confused by Rayna’s continued attention to that situation It would make more sense to me if she’d go out on tour and never mention them again – the storyline relegated to the ether.
Better actors could make the writing sing. Better writers could make the actors sing. Lip-synching might make the singing tolerable. The show needs an overhaul at this point. The business should be relevant to the characters’ relationships and vice-versa. The initial setup, older singer, married to mayoral candidate, with strings pulled by father-in-law, candidate running against former employee (traitor), new singer trying to take everything the old singer has in order to steal fame and respect, bandleader former boyfriend cleaned up and a real threat to mayoral candidate, struggling singer with his supportive, connected girlfriend and her smitten co-worker, sounds good. That’s the stuff of steamy, soapy drama. It feels as though the show spends to much time on actors attempting to sing convincingly.
But then again there is a serious chemistry issue between the actors. Overall on Rayna is the only character that seems to develop bonds to other characters. Rayna’s relationships with Deacon, Liam, Waddy, Juliette, and the label head are interesting and worth exploring. Her bond with Teddy is believable – settle for safe and get a condom for a husband. A woman fleeing a relationship with an addict might try to find a boy scout. If she’s a busy working woman, distracted and vulnerable, she might fall for a shallow, hollow, bland, guy without backbone or honor. I’ve seen Jonathan Jackson do relationships in other performances, so I know he can successfully do the job. Unfortunately he was paired with the black hole of acting. She has no chemistry of any kind with any character on the show and her dialogue is virtually unintelligible. I believe it’s a juicy role. It is currently being wasted.
The Gunnar character has the opportunity to play both sides of the fence. He can be a good guy trying to make it in a tough business who gets corrupted by the big, bad, business and becomes bad for a while, but redeems himself off and on throughout the series. Avery has been written as a fame addict up to this point. The character would be better served as a younger version of Lamar interested in music rather than politics. He could be ruthless while pursuing his goals, but not bad – as in he’s doing what he has to instead of intentionally aiming to harm someone. Lamar should also be ruthless, but fiercely protective of his family. He should be chasing Deacon’s niece. He’s dastardly, but with a purpose – not just evil. Hmmm, sounds like I’m talking about depth of character.
Deacon’s niece should be a student with educational and career goals that are important to her that she loses sight of as she accidentally falls into the music business. She should be a character as strong as Rayna, able to carry the lion’s share of the burden for herself and her boyfriend – but with enough chutzpah to put her foot down when necessary – strong, loving, and smart. She and Rayna should be forces of nature – victors in the end. Juliette should be someone who admires Rayna, envies Rayna, but believes herself incapable of achieving Rayna’s success (personal and professional) honestly. Rayna fought her way to the top, but retained the integrity that allowed her to face herself in a mirror. The only place she’s lost her integrity has been in leaving Deacon in rehab and marrying Teddy. That would be her greatest regret and the thing she would change if she could. Rayna is a good person leaving her at odds with her father and the sharks of the
business, but she’s managed to make a career without losing herself. Juliette has never developed a sense of self, nor integrity due to her chaotic upbringing and early (undeserved) fame. Juliette wants to be a good person, but she believes in her core that nice girls finish last and she started out last and wants to be first. She will occasionally do good things that turn out badly for her, supporting her core belief and resulting in bad behavior to rectify the problem and to get ahead. The birthday party for Deacon should’ve been a personal failure, a humiliation that resulted in a rift between she and her beloved Deacon.
Deacon should be the good guy Juliette can never have because he’s too good for her. Of course, at some point, she should have him, but it should end badly and she should return to the quest to get him while having everybody else who can give her something she wants. Deacon should be dedicated to Rayna, but tempted by stand-ins while he’s waiting for Rayna to get it together and become his one and only. Juliette’s mother should be a loving heart – so sweet she’s constantly disappointed and damaged by life resulting in her addiction issues. A living example to Juliette of what happens to people who try to do good, be good. Deacon, fiercely loyal, deeply loving, sensitive, tough, and a little wild, loves Rayna. They were just a little too young and he a little too angry back in the day, but he’s since dealt with his issues and is ready to love Rayna, but he still has a temper that causes him to jump to conclusions and withdraw.
I like the Waddy White character and I feel the actor does a great job with him. There needs to be more differentiation in the brunettes. Typically nothing really distinguishes them. I can’t tell Juliette’s assistant, from the girl working at the publishing house, from the girl who is a manager, seems like there’s another one. If she weren’t so old looking I’d thrown Tandy in that category. Her wrinkled distinguish her.
Speaking of wrinkles, what is up with the horrible make-up, lighting on this show??? Seriously, Rayna always looks exhausted. I know she’s supposed to be older, a working-woman, in emotional turmoil, but geez who would pay to see that? She looks like she’s been sleepless for years! Connie Britton is an attractive woman. She deserves better. Juliette doesn’t look any better. She always looks tired. The women all look old and tired, or like a character in a haunted house. The clothes look like they’re from JC. Penney and seem inappropriate for the characters and situations. It looks like a cheap/low-budget show. The little touches that would add class or authenticity seem to be missing.
I’m still watching the show because Buffy the Vampire Slayer was dreadful when it started, then it became quite enjoyable, then it jumped the shark. I’d like to seem Nashville become great and stay there a while. I love a good, strong, non-crime-related drama and it’s been a while since there’s been one worth watching. There have been some weak dramas, and some silly dramas, and some that weren’t sure they were dramas, but its been a while since there was a solid, well written, enjoyable drama.